Vegetation and soil characteristics around water points under three land management systems in semi-arid rangelands of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorBeyene, S Ten
dc.contributor.advisorWakindiki, I Cen
dc.contributor.advisorMopipi, Ken
dc.contributor.authorSimanga, Siyabulelaen
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-28T10:31:10Z
dc.date.available2026-07-28T10:31:10Z
dc.date.issued2013en
dc.description.abstractThis study investigated the vegetation and soil characteristics in relation to distance from water points under different land management systems in semi-arid rangelands of South Africa. Six study sites, two each from communal grazing, commercial farming and game reserves were selected. Two watering points were selected in each study site. Two 500 m transects were laid from the selected watering points. Each transect was divided into sub-transects at 25 m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 300m and 500m from water points. A 100 m2 plot was marked in each sub-transect to record grass biomas, species composition, structure and distribution of woody vegetation and physical and chemical soil properties. Data were collected for two seasons 2012/13 (winter and summer). Thirty and 41 grass and woody species respectively were identified in all study areas. The most common and dominating grass species include Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis obtusa, Setaria sphacelata and Sporobolus fimbriatus. Cynodon dactylon and S. sphacelata occurred more abundantly (p < 0.05) in the game reserves than in the other land management catergories. All the grass species had similar (p > 0.05) abundance along distance gradient from water points. Grass dry matter (GDM) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between and within land management systems. However, GDM was not significantly affected by season, location of water point within each farm or reserve and distance along water points. Acacia karoo, Coddia rudis and Ehretia rigida were the most dominant woody species. Tree equivalent (TE) density of all encroaching woody plants combined was significantly (p < 0.05) higher on the communal area (1732 TE ha-1) than the commercial ranches (1136 TE ha-1) and game reserves (857 TE ha-1), but with no marked variations along distance from water points under all the land management systems. The electric conductivity (EC) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in game reserves than in communal grazing areas and ranches. Soil organic matter percentage showed greatest and lowest values in the game reserves and commercial respectively. Soil pH and bulk density did not vary but soil organic matter (SOM), EC, bulk density and soil compaction were significant different with no increasing or decreasing trends. Soil properties were affected by herbivore pressure and trampling around water points with inconsistence magnitude and direction. In conclusion, grass species composition and GDM did not respond to distance from water points because either grazing gradient was absent or the length of transects was not enough to explain the absence or presence of gradients. High proportion of A. karoo and high densities of seedlings and saplings would seem as very good indicators of the woody vegetation changes in the different land management systems and distance from water points. The soil quality indicators around the water-points showed that livestock and game affected soil parameters.en
dc.format146 leaves; 30 cmen
dc.formatpdfen
dc.identifier.citationSimanga, Siyabulela. 2013en
dc.identifier.othervital:11584en
dc.identifier.otherhttp://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015795en
dc.identifier.otherLivestock -- Effect of water quality on -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.identifier.otherBiodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.identifier.otherRange ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/4249
dc.language.isoEnglishen
dc.publisherUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.publisherFaculty of Science & Agricultureen
dc.rightsUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.subjectLivestock -- Effect of water quality on -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.subjectBiodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.subjectRange ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Capeen
dc.titleVegetation and soil characteristics around water points under three land management systems in semi-arid rangelands of the Eastern Cape, South Africaen
dc.title.alternativeVegetation and soil characteristics around water points under three land management systems in semi-arid rangelands of the Eastern Cape, South Africaen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.typeMastersen
dc.typeMSc Agric (Pasture Science)en

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